Break The Cycle (Chris Motionless' Daughter)

Chapter 36

Riley's POV

It was a bit more challenging of a bike ride to school the next morning, but there was no way I was going to walk through the snow, and I wasn't going to ride the bus where there were, like, people and stuff. I cannot wait until I can drive.

I walk into school and Jack immediately walks up to me.

"Hey! Max is back!"

"What?"

"Come on!" Jack says, pulling me down the hallway.

Jack pulls me to a group of people surrounding something, or someone.

"Yeah, okay, thanks guys." Max says, walking away from them. She sees us and walks over, " 'I'm so sorry for your loss, 'Are you okay?' blah blah blah. God I hate people."

"Babe, what are you doing here?" I ask.

"Yeah, when my sister Phoebe died I didn't come to school for three months." Jack says.

"I had to come back some time. And I missed seeing my girlfriend everyday." Max says with a small smile. I smile in return.

Just then though, the bitch herself approaches.

Max sighs, "Save it, Emily. I'm not in the mood."

"No, that's not what I..." Emily starts. She sighs, "I just wanted to say that...I'm really sorry for your loss. I am."

Max blinks, "Oh. Um. Thank you."

Emily nods, "And about helping out with the showcase -"

"I'll still do it."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay...The committee has a meeting tomorrow after school in the library. I'll see you then, I guess."

Max nods, then Emily walks off.

"Pinch me I must be dreaming; Emily Poncher, actually being nice." Max says.

"She has her moments." Jack admits, "It's her damned parents. They have so much control over her."

There's a pause, then Max changes the subject.

"So are we still on for your place today?"

"Oh shit. Hang on, let me text my dad." I say, pulling out my phone, "Jack, you good?"

"Well...yeah, but it took a lot of convincing. Truth be told, my parents only let me go because I told them your dad was out of town."

"What? Why?" Max asks.

"Well, because my sister was killed by a guy with lots of tattoos and piercings and..." Jack trails off.

I just stare at him.

"We're not trying to be stereotypical, promise. It's just that, well, you know..." He trails, "I have no issue with your dad, swear. It's just my family..."

My phone buzzes, "Did he seriously respond right away?" I wonder aloud, looking at my phone, "Holy Hell. Bet my life that's never gonna happen again. He usually can't respond right away when he's on tour."

"What'd he say?" Max asks.

"He said, and I quote, 'Don't break anything, clean up after yourselves, and no lesbian sex.' So, in other words, we're good."

Jack just blinks, "Wow."

"Hey, I told you I don't have much of a filter; who do you think I get that from?" I ask.